Phantasy Star Online 2 – New Genesis
What is PSO 2? The online role-playing game Phantasy Star Online 2 blends science fiction elements with fantasy. You explore foreign worlds where you face enemies through an active, action-packed combat system. You utilize the skills of 9 different classes. It is possible to switch classes at any time.
However, you haven’t been able to expect a “real” MMORPG experience so far, rather a co-op RPG where you enter the game areas with friends from hubs, similar to Guild Wars 1.
But that is supposed to change with New Genesis.
How did the development go? The RPG was released in Japan back in 2012. In 2020, the game finally launched in the West on PC and Xbox and received surprisingly good reviews for its age. In August, a few months after release, it appeared on Steam and peaked at nearly 20,000 concurrent players (via Steamcharts).
In 2020, New Genesis was announced as a sort of sequel. It will take place 1,000 years after the current story and will launch with a new engine and graphics.
It also offers open world content and is supposed to feel more like an MMORPG. Nevertheless, there is a close connection to PSO 2, as you will be able to transfer your characters and even some cosmetic content to the new game.
That’s why New Genesis will succeed
New Genesis will be a hit in the community and attract new players
The hype surrounding Phantasy Star Online 2 surprised me even in 2020. The role-playing game launched 8 years after its release in Japan and quickly found a large fanbase, even though it looked outdated and sometimes played that way too.
On Steam, the title still sees over 5,300 daily players, six months after release, which is remarkable for a game that’s been around for quite some time. Thus, I am very confident that the new version will captivate even more players.
With the upcoming open world, PSO 2 will become more of an MMORPG and simultaneously modernize with a new engine and graphics. This paves the way for many new players eagerly waiting for a new game in this genre. Since you will be able to switch back and forth between the old content and New Genesis, a larger player base is almost guaranteed.
Alexander Leitsch
MMORPG expert at MeinMMO
